Name: Lebanon says phase one of disarming non-state groups in south complete
Uploaded: 2026-01-09T02:08:34.781Z
Duration: 2 min 29 s
Description: The Lebanese army has announced the completion of the first phase of its plan to bring all non-state weaponry in the south of the country under its control, covering the area between the Litani river and the Israeli border.

The Lebanese army has announced the completion of the first phase of its plan to bring all non-state weaponry in the south of the country under its control, covering the area between the Litani river and the Israeli border.

Beirut

Lebanon's army has completed the first phase of its plan to bring all weapons in south Lebanon under government control, extending operational authority over an area previously dominated by Hezbollah. This move is part of a ceasefire agreement that ended more than a year of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. 

The first phase covered the region between the Israeli border and the Litani River, but no timeline has been set for the next stage, which will address the area north of the Litani. The Lebanese army faced logistical challenges but reported no obstruction from Hezbollah, though the group has threatened to resist future disarmament efforts. Discussions on the next steps are scheduled for an upcoming government meeting.

Lebanon says phase one of disarming non-state groups in south complete

Lebanon's army says it's extended operational control over south Lebanon, completing the first phase of its plan to place all weapons under government control. This used to be Hezbollah's stronghold, until Israel's war on the group weakened it. President Joseph Aoun said extending state authority was a national decision, but it's part of a ceasefire agreement that ended more than a year of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. The army commander, Rudolf Heikal, who briefed ministers on the progress made so far, pledged armed groups won't be able to rebuild their capabilities. The first phase covered the area between the Israeli border and the Litani River, but there was no announcement on the timeline for the next stage of the disarmament plan, involving the area between the Litani and the Awali rivers. The government stressed on the importance of continuing to implement the army's plan that was approved by the government, and develop a plan for the area north of the Litani. It will be discussed in the next monthly meeting in February. Israel, which has continued to target Hezbollah personnel and military assets despite the ceasefire, says efforts by the government and army are encouraging, but they're far from sufficient. The Lebanese army faced logistical challenges while clearing the area south of the Litani River. It is rugged terrain and Hezbollah did not provide any maps, but the group did not stand in the army's way. Phase two is expected to be more difficult and challenging. Hezbollah has threatened to take action against any effort to disarm it. And then there is Iran, whose foreign minister Abbas Araqchi's arrival in Beirut was a show of support to its ally, Hezbollah. The main aim of my visit is to discuss all the topics, regional and international, with the Lebanese officials. But the new leadership has been distancing itself from Tehran after years of Iranian influence over Lebanon through Hezbollah. It appears, however, to be treading carefully when dealing with the group. Officials have said political consensus is needed to avoid internal conflict, but Israel is accusing Hezbollah of rebuilding with Iranian support. There are fears of military escalation. Zinek Hadar, Al Jazeera, Beirut.

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